Objectnummer
96/111
Vervaardiger
Beschrijving
A scythe with a fairly short blade which was once painted blue, and two handles. It was manufactured by W. A. Tyzack & Co. Ltd. of Sheffield. The scythe was used by the donor, and the donor's father, in Market Bosworth in Leicestershire.
Fysieke kenmerken
1 scythe: wood; metal; good condition
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>4. <B>Scythe</B><P> The scythe has a long pedigree going back as least as far as the Romans. Design modifications emerged gradually over the centuries. The evolution from a straight handle to one with a distinctive shallow curve, for example came in the later Middle Ages. Throughout history, the scythe was primarily used for cutting grass to make hay. There was a period, however, in the pre-mechanised era of the nineteenth century when it was used on some farms in preference to the sickle for cutting corn. This was because it was more productive: a man could cut an acre or more of wheat in a day with a scythe compared to less than half that with a sickle or a hook. Even after harvesting machines had largely taken over, scythes were still required to 'open up' a field for the machine to start and to deal with a crop that had been blown flat by bad weather. This is an early twentieth century example, with a blade made by the Sheffield firm of W.A.Tyzack & Co Ltd, that was used at Market Bosworth in Warwickshire.<P> 96/111</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>6. <B>Scythe</B><P> The scythe has a long pedigree going back as least as far as the Romans. Design modifications emerged gradually over the centuries. The evolution from a straight handle to one with a distinctive shallow curve, for example came in the later Middle Ages. Throughout history, the scythe was primarily used for cutting grass to make hay. There was a period, however, in the pre-mechanised era of the nineteenth century when it was used on some farms in preference to the sickle for cutting corn. This was because it was more productive: a man could cut an acre or more of wheat in a day with a scythe compared to less than half that with a sickle or a hook. Even after harvesting machines had largely taken over, scythes were still required to 'open up' a field for the machine to start and to deal with a crop that had been blown flat by bad weather. This is an early twentieth century example, with a blade made by the Sheffield firm of W.A.Tyzack & Co Ltd, that was used at Market Bosworth in Warwickshire.<P> The Tyzack firm was founded in Sheffield in 1812 by William Tyzack and his three sons, Ebenezer, William and Joshua, for the manufacture of saws. It expanded considerably during the century with a world wide reputation for scythes, sickles, hooks, hay knives and, subsequently, parts for reaping and mowing machines. Their scythes were made at the famous Abbeydale Works in Sheffield (see www.simt.co.uk/).<P>96/111</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archiefgeschiedenis
MERL ‘Handwritten accession form’ (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Standard museum name: SCYTHE // Accession number: 96/111 // … // Recorder: JMB // Date: 19.6.97 // Description: Scythe with a fairly short blade which is rivetted to a strong bar along the back. It is fixed to the handle by a bolt fixing which can be adjusted. The handles (2) are in position. The blade was once painted blue. // Inscription: W.A.TYZACK + CO.LTD. // STELLA WORKS // SHEFFIELD // Dimensions: Length: 148.0 cm Length of blade: 58.0 cm // Associated information: This scythe was used by Mr. Dolby and his father before him in Market Boxworth [sic]. It was brought to the Museum by his son-in-law, …, Thatcham, Berks’
Vervaardiging plaats
Sheffield
Datum
1900-01-01 - 1924-12-31
Vervaardiging periode
Early-twentieth century
Objectnaam
Materiaal
Elektronisch document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_16785.tif - High resolution image